Our Sacred Earth
The Leadership team consists of the officers and up to 10 at-large members. This group is responsible for the general affairs and activities of the Interfaith Council. Anyone interested in attending one of these meetings is welcome. We meet one time a month, usually on the 4th Monday. Please contact us at interfaithcfc@gmail.com
Rev. Leslie Fraser - President
Kate Mason - Vice President
Hetty Startup - Secretary
Julie Orvis - Treasurer
Sandra Boston
Rev. Kate Stevens
Liz Kelner
Rev. Liza Knapp
John Hoffman
David Arfa
Mission
The mission of the Interfaith Council of Franklin County is to bring together representatives of various faith communities and religious organizations, as well as interested individuals, for the purpose of dialogue, information sharing, relationship building, celebration and social transformation. We honor the rich variety of religious and spiritual traditions of our community, and gather to create a mosaic that represents differences while reinforcing all that unites us. We strive to be a forum for greater understanding, a vehicle for spiritual enrichment, a force for justice and peace, a voice for the vulnerable and defenseless, and an advocate for the wise stewardship of the earth and its resources.
History
The Interfaith Council of Franklin County, Inc. was Incorporated in November of 1989 as a non-profit ecumenical corporation. This organization was a merger of the Greater Greenfield Council of Churches and the Interfaith Council of Franklin County. The IRA has determined that ICFC is exempt from Federal Income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in Section 501(c) 3.
Interfaith Services
The Interfaith Council has been offering interfaith services for many years, sometimes in conjunction with other organizations and sometimes on its own. During the pandemic, these services have been both on line and in person. Our annual services are a Thanksgiving service in November and a memorial service in December, both on the Greenfield Common.
“We are not alone” Interfaith Council lifts spirits with its Thanksgiving dinner on the common.
Supporting Congregations.
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church
Bernardston Congregational Unitarian Society
Blessed Sacrament
Episcopal Church of St James and Andrew
Faith Church
Federated Church of Charlemont
First Church of Christ Scientist
First Church of Deerfield
First Congregational Church, Ashfield
First Congregational Church of Montague
First Congregational Church of Sunderland
First United Methodist, Greenfield
Holy Trinity Church
Leverett Congregational Church
National Spiritual Alliance
Our Lady of Peace Church
St Pauls Lutheran
Second Congregational Church, Greenfield
Temple Israel Greenfield
Trinity Church, Shelburne Falls
United Church of Bernardston
Affiliates
The Interfaith Opportunities Network (ION) is a lay-led interfaith network based in Hampshire County, Western Massachusetts, seeking to strengthen bonds of mutual respect and understanding. https://interfaithopportunities.org/
Racial Justice Rising is a small, all-volunteer racial justice organization based in Franklin County, Massachusetts. https://racialjusticerising.org
Since 1978, the non-profit Traprock Center for Peace and Justice has provided leadership to end war and militarism and increasingly to address gender, racial, economic and environmental justice issues locally and beyond, with an emphasis on youth. https://traprock.org
Greening Greenfield is a group of concerned citizens building a more resilient Greenfield by advancing sustainable practices. https://greeninggreenfieldma.org
Faithwaze is a community-driven virtual worship service held Sundays at 11 am EST via Zoom and Facebook. Faithwaze also assists in our worship services on the Greenfield Common. https://www.uccholyoke.org/worship/faithwaze/
Driven by racial and environmental justice, the worker owners of The Compost Co-operative haul food scraps for residential, commercial, and institutional customers in Franklin County, MA. https://thecompostcooperative.com
The Wildflower Alliance is a grassroots Peer Support, Advocacy, and training organization with a focus on harm reduction and human rights. https://wildfloweralliance.org
The Recover Project is a safe, welcoming community that supports recovery by sharing the wisdom of our lived experience and strengthens our community through full participation. https://recoverproject.org
Nolumbeka Project envisions a Connecticut River Valley where the histories, cultures, and persistence of Northeastern Indigenous Peoples are recognized and celebrated, and where all beings coexist in balance and reciprocity. https://nolumbekaproject.org